I speak the truth in Christ — I am not lying, my conscience confjrms it through the Holy Spirit — ROMANS 9:1
I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ROMANS 9:2
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, ROMANS 9:3
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the Law, the temple worship, and the promises. ROMANS 9:4
Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. ROMANS 9:5
It is not as though God’s Word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. ROMANS 9:6
Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” ROMANS 9:7
In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. ROMANS 9:8
For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” ROMANS 9:9
Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. ROMANS 9:10
Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad — in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: ROMANS 9:11
“not by works but by Him who calls — she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ROMANS 9:12
Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” ROMANS 9:13
The Plight of Israel (9:1–5)
Paul’s Grief Over His Own People
The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” EXODUS 32:30
So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.” EXODUS 32:31
“But now, please forgive their sin — but if not, then blot me out of the book You have written.” EXODUS 32:32
Israel’s Privileges From God
“Paul is no longer looking at the Jews from the perspective of the Gentiles and in their relationship to the Gentiles but from the perspective of salvation history and in their relationship to God and His promises to them…”
“‘Israelites’ is no mere political or nationalistic designation but a religiously signifjcant and honorifjc title.” DOUGLAS MOO
The Promises of God (9:6–13)
Who is Israel?
“Even though many Jews have failed to believe, God’s promise to them has not failed, for there was never a promise that every Jewish person would be saved…”
“It was never the case that all the physical children of Abraham were truly part of the people of God.” ESV STUDY BIBLE
“There have always been two Israels, those physically descended from Israel (Jacob) on the one hand, and his spiritual progeny on the other; and God’s promise was addressed to the latter, who had received it.” JOHN STOTT
“Paul argues that belonging to God’s true spiritual people has always been based on God’s gracious and sovereign call and not on ethnic identity.” DOUGLAS MOO
A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ROMANS 2:28
No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. ROMANS 2:29
“So God’s promise did not fail; but it was fulfjlled only in the Israel within Israel.” JOHN STOTT
“What counts is grace, not race.” N.T. WRIGHT
Two Examples
“Some people argue that God simply ‘foresees’ who is going to accept and who is going to reject God’s way, but verse 12 reinforces the point by saying that blessing comes ‘not by works, but by Him who calls.’” TIM KELLER
“The contrasting destinies of Jacob and Esau were not simply seen in advance by God but were also caused by Him.” DOUGLAS MOO
“God does not choose us because we believe, but that we may believe.” AUGUSTINE
“The shock is not that God does not extend His compassion to everyone , but that He extends it to anyone .” TIM KELLER
“You should not be surprised at My saying, ‘You must be born again.’” JOHN 3:7
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” JOHN 3:8
“Election was also taught by Jesus himself. ‘I know those I have chosen,’ He said…”
“If we were responsible for our own salvation, either in whole or even in part, we would be justifjed in singing our own praises and blowing our own trumpet in heaven. But such a thing is inconceivable.” JOHN STOTT
God’s children are the descendants of His promise to Abraham, not those of Abraham’s fmesh.
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